Rolling-mill apparatus.



J. W. SHBPERDSON.

ROLLING MILL APPARATUS. APPLIUATION HLED Nov.13, 1912.

Patented June 16,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l WIJK: A

J. W. SHEYBRDSON. ROLLING MILL APPARATUS.`

APPLIGATION FILED 11011.13, 1912.

1 1 00,404, Patented June 16, 1914.

3 BHEBTB-SHBET 2.

LS INVENTOR.

Jahn IKS/2f Iwan Wl TAVE J. W. SHBPBRDSON.

ROLLING MILL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 13, 1912.

1 00,404. Patented June 16, 1914.

. y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J0 46' l W I 4j J4 MHT; uw HHM t y .10M 1.5M mi@ 9@ 4 I a subject of the King str-nains Pnirnn'r orrjion.

10H-N W. SHEPERDBN, OWESTMONI BDIGQGH, PNNSYIWANI.

Speciwtibnf Letterslfhl Pfld Julie 15,1914. Application ed' Novenrer 13, 1912. Serial-Nm 731077.

To all -wom it may. concern Be it known. that I, JOHN W SHnrEnDsoN, A of G'reat Britain, residing in the borough of vWestmont, in the county of Cambriapand State of. Pennsyl- Vania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Rolling-Mill Apparatus; and. I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.--

My invention relates to rolling mill apparatus with special reference to the guide equipment thereof and is applicable to meta-l rollingA mills known as two-high and threehigl'i mills, and is particularly adapted to use in connection with those of the continu.d ous type.

Although my invention is adapted for use in connection with: blooming mills,

billet mills, bar mills and rod mills, I will. for the sake of simplicity of description, refer to the rolled piece in all cases as a bar.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a construction and arrangement of the delivery guides which receive and direct the rolledf bar as 4it issues from one of the passes of the rolls.

A particular object of my invention isto provide delivery guides for rolls that have their available surfaces as fully utilized as practicable for adjoining roll passes, where-` by each set off rolls is adapted to operate on a number of bars, either separately,l or on more than onel at a. time, and these adjoin ing passes may bec-f` similar contour or of,

diierent contoursf as desired.

In order thatfthe rollingvoperation may not be interrupted, I may provide in each set of rolls a plurality of passes of the same contour, whereby' the rolling operation of any size andsectio-n may be shifted from one pass to another, in. case where the rst .pass becomes worn or otherwise ino erative for the purpose lntended. I may a so provide passes of different forms in the same pair .of rolls adapted to o eratex upon and produce different sizes an I sections', if desirerL My invention provides apparatus which of its distinctive construction,

such a reduced lateral displacement that a simultaneous guide equipment is provided for adjoining roll passes, whereby the guide of one pass will not interfere with the giu-ide of the adjacent pass.

Another object of m invention is to standardize the roll gui es, whereby I use the same equipment for various different sizes and sections otbars. I have discovered that a guide to be efficient need not exactly' conform to the shape or wid-th of the guided-bar, but can principally conne the top and bottom surfaces of the same, and I have therefore dispensed with the `customary adjustable side guide-pieces and the interior lateral dimensions of' my guides are limited only by the partitions or walls of` the guide boxes which form part of my construction, and which support the top and bottom guides.

By reason of my construction, bars of different widths, less than that between the partitions, may be guided without laterally adjustable side guides, thereby increasing the range of the apparatus. I guide the rolled bar by a top and al bottom guide piece whichcontact therewith and are adapted' tor vertical adjustments as hereinafter described. y Y

By reason of the construction and vertical -adjustment of my top land bottom guides, the movements of rolled bars of various shapes and of' different. thicknesses may be etliciently regulated, and the lateral dimensions of said bars are limited only by the distance between the lateral walls of the 4guide box, While the vertical dimensions of the guided bar are only limited by the extreme extent of the vertical adjustments of the top and bottom guide pieces.

By dispensing with the heretofore used adjustable side ,guides I also obviate the necessity of provid-ine; lateral retaining devices therefcr, whereby I economize correspondingly in widths of construction, thereby minimizing the amount of separation of the two adjoining guides to the thickness of the partitions serving as the side walls of the Guides.

My guide construction is adapted or'flat bars which are not aXialIy turned or twisted when passing from one set of rolls to the twist guides and rendering them applicablel to various conditions which heretofore ree quired a multiplicity of twist guides, each of a distinct formation and pitch of twist.

' In order to more fully describe my invention, I will now refer to the accompanying three' sheets of drawings on which like num! bers indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation through a pair of two-high rolls, showing the rolls in'section, the housing in elevation and my guides in longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig.2 is a. front elevation on an enlarged scale of my deliveryguides with two rolled bars shownin cross section passing there-through. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of my delivery guides'A with the parts thereof assembled v.in position. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through a pair of rolls showing the bottom of my delivery guide-box and the guide restin section and a pair of twist guides and other parts in side elevation. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an entering guide adapted to cooperate with the rolls andthe delivery guides. Fig. G is a vertical longitudinal elevation of the entering guide taken on the line ITI-VI of Fig. 5. Fig. 7

is a vfront elevation of a form of my delivery guide in which the `guide-boxes are separate` for each pass, as shown, thereby permitting renlafemcnt and adjustment ofone guide without interfering with thel others. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a liner which may be inserted between the bottom guide piece and the bottom of the guide box to adjust the elevation of the bottom guide pieces as desired. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a shim 24- which may be inserted to adjust the top guide nearer to. or fartherfrom, the rolls. as desired. These shims maybeof different thickness to accomplish this purose. p Ieferringnow to the characters of reference on thc drawings 1 is they top roll of a two-high mill, 2 is-thebottom roll of the same and as viewed in Fig. 1, these rolls are adapted to rotate in such directions that the contiguous portions of their peripheries move from left to right, the movement'of the bar in the pass being in a similar direction.

3 is a part of a baror billet on the entering side of the rolls; 4 is that part of the same between or within the bite of the rolls, and 5 is that part of the bar after it issues from the rolls in its reducedor shaped 5f' form.

within the guide the bottom 6, in Fig. 8, may be inserted, these being of varying thicknesses er number, whereby the ivertical adjustment. of the guides is accomplished. Ipreferably formed-with an elongated open- 'th ey are ad :in `the vbottom roll.

6 represents the bottom of the frame-work or box-like structures forming part ofa support for my delivery guides; 7 are interme* diate vertical partitions or walls thereof, while 8 are the corresponding end walls. The intermediate walls or partitions 7 may be made integral as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

or they may be made separate from each other, as shown in Fig. 7. The arrangement of these partitions or-walls, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3is a co1 pact and solid construction, while the arrangement of the individual box-like structures shown in Fig. 7 is very similar, with the exception that the change in adjustment of each guide box may be made without interfering with its companion. These guide boxes are of channel shape in cross section, that is, closed on the bottoms and sides, and open at the ends 'and top, the said top, however, being closed by the top guide and lwith a separate bottom guide when the vari- :ous parts are assembled for operation. The guide boxes are mounted upon the guide lrest 9 or are supported on brackets, or otherwise, on the roll housings.

the bottom provided 10 are holding down bolts which secure the delivery guide to the guide rest 9, passing through the slotted holes in the latter,

which holes are longer and wider than the ydiameter of the bolts 10,'as shown. to admit iof slight longitudinal or lateral adjustment, as may be required.

11 are the bottom guide pieces -inounted boxes between the partitions thereof and resting on the bottom 6 as shown. Between the bottoni guides 11 and shims, such as 45, illustrated said bottom These slums are ing extending from one end thereof, so that are indicated as l2 and these are curved and pointed, as shown, and adapted to rest in contact with or near the surface of the pass The bottom guides 11 are each provided with lugs 13 which project from the lower surface thereof adapted to contact with the wall of the opening la, provided for this purpose in"`fthe floor 6 of the guide boxes. In order to allow a longitudinal adjustment of the bottom guide, shims or liners, indicated as15. may be inserted between the flat end of the lng 13 and the wall of the hole 14, thereby holding the guide firmly in position against the thrust of the moving bar contacting with its upper surface.

16 represents upper guide pieces which are apted to be slipped into place 110 'under'the bottom guide without interfering Qwith the bolt 10 or the lug 13. The forward for tongue ends of the bottom guide pieces 1l roller bar,

A'o1 large sections.

fitted between the partitions formed by the walls 7 and 8 as shown. These upper guides are provided with projecting lugs 17 adapted to overlap the upper surface of the said walls or 8'. These lugs are preferably arr'an ed in staggered relation with each other, as s own in Fig.k 3, which makes a compact arrangement and reduces the width of the construction for the purposes desired. The lugs 17 of the upper guide 16 are provided with set screws or tap bolts 18 mounted within threaded holes provided therefor, whereby the guide 16 may be raised or lowered on either or both sides and ends as desired.

Standards 19 are preferably formed integral with the walls 7 and 8 and project upwardly therefrom, these standards being formed in pairs with an opening between-in which a clamp bar 20 is inserted and secured b the pin 21 which passes through the slotted holes' provided therefor in said standards, thereby securing said clamp bar in position as required and allowing the same to be removed when desired. The lower edge of the clamp bar 2O is preferably curved in cross "section, as shown, faces in contact therewith. The tapered key or wedge 22 is adapted to be inserted and driven between the clamp bar 20 and the upper surface of the guide piece 16 for the purpose of securing said guide iirmly in position and well adapted to resist the upward thrust or twist communicated to it by the these forces being very considerable in amount, especially when guiding bars Lugs 23 are formed -on the intermediate portion of the upper sur-` face of the top guides 16 adapte to cc,- operate with the side of the clamp bar `20 to hold said guides in position longitudinally to resist the thrust of the guided bar. In order to obtain forward or backward adjustment of the top guide 16, shims such as 24 may be inserted between side of the clamp bar 20, whereby said top guide is held i'n position, nearer to, or farther from the rolls, as desired. More or less of these shims may be used of varying thickness, to accomplish the purpose desired. The shim 24 is preferably lvformed of a rec-l tangular piece of flat steel provided with a central opening, as shown, through which opening the clamping wedge 22 is adapted to pass without disturbing the shim, while the lower edges of said shim rest on the` upper surface off the top guide 16.

As shown in the intermediate portions of Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4 the lower 'guide 11 and the upper guide 16 are formed with their interior surfaces transversely inclined throughout the major portions of their lengths. Adjoining the yroll pass these surfaces are parallel with the cylindrical sur# faces of the grooves in the roll, but as they depart from said grooves, they areformed agonal y to accommodate the wedge surv tic'ular bar',

v'near the outer ends may 1in-'number vthe guides, and the set screws may be-moved f' to accomplish this 1 with a slow 'pitch after the fashion of an auger or i a' twisting device. These twist guides are adapted to twist the bar axially, so as to present it to the next pass of the rolls in a different position; whereby the work and reduction on said bar will be in a different direction. In order to more readily accomplish m'ake these twist guides of universal adaptation they are provided with portions 2 5 projectin'g from the surfaces thereof,which pro-A jections are so located as to contact with those ortions of the sides of the bar ditwisting is more readily accomplishe and adjusted, as the guiding surfaces contact with thevparts of the bar best adapted to cooperate in'producing the twist desired.

The innersedges ofl theends of my guides are adaptedV i contact with, ywhichthey serve,

'and arranged to be near, or in the-surfaces of the roll passes 'so aszto neatly guide the the purpose' intended and to opposite each other, whereb the delivered bar bycontact with portions of the sur-faces lthereof asr'eduired, and all the adjustinents of said guides are manner asA to maintain this made in such a proper relation between thel guides andrv thev roll passes.

to modify the delivery 4direction of any ar- -afterthe guideshav'e once en set for ,than-15am, fthe Vgreater part of the the'ends thereof which are farthest from the roll passes, and the shims set screws, wedges, etc., are arranged accordingly. The shims be thicker or greater than" those near the inner-end through a greater range particular adjustment. l

The housing of the rolls is indicated as 26, the housing cap is indicated ais'27, while" v-28 represents van entering guide which is the lug 23 and the -mounted supported atv one. end -onl the guide rest u on the housings-as shown, while the other' end 46 of v.said entrance guide is sup-v ported on the pedestalz29, which latter is provided `with' a suitable base secured to a` solid foundation'l (not shown)." The entering guide is provided with side guides 30 formed integral therewith and preferably tapering from their inner ends to their outer ends, 'as-shown, passages to the roll passes. The outer part 46 of the base of the entering guide is sloping as shown, vthereby forming an in clined surface to better yreceive and direct a bar to the roll pass in connection with the tapering side guides 30, 34, 35 and the sloping cover 37, thus forming an adjustable funnel-shaped construction adapted to guide bars of different sizes and forms. AThe entering guide plate is secured in position by the bolts 31 which pass through slotted holes 32 provided therein and is locked in When it is` necessarytoy adjust the guides vertical-adjustments of my guides is made at sof thereby providing guiding shims l5. The vertical .place by the action of different thicknesses of position by the keys 33 which pass through slots in the ends of the bolts 3l as shown. Only one of each pair of bolts 3l may be used and its head may be seated in either of the slots in the pedestal 29, or in either of the slotted holes 32 in each of the entering side guides 30, thereby providing different positions of the entering guide, as desired. Further smaller adjustments ofy the same can be made by reason of the slotted holes 32 provided for this purpose. This arrangement permits lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the entering guides to adapt them to coperate with the rolls as desired. The inner ends of the entering side guides 30 are provided with intermediate swinging side guidesi: and the outer swinging side guides 35. These swinging guides adjoin the rolls and are adapted to be moved laterally and secured in position to accommodate and guide bars of different widths. These adjustable side guides 34 and 35 are hinged and pivoted to the fixed side guides 30 by the pivot pins 36 as shown, which pass through the hinge lugs 40, 41 and 42 formed thereon, as shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. The inner end of the entrance guide is supported on a guide rest by means of its projecting lugs 43 which contact therewith, as shown in Fig. l. The upper edges of the inner ends of the adjustable entrance guides 34 and 35 are elevated and tapering as shown and each pair is provided with a cover 37, which rests on the aforesaid upper edges of the adjustable swinging guides to hold them firmly in the position desired, thereby forming a closure the tapered guide opening. Short bars or blocks 38 rest on top of the tapered ribs or flanges of each of the covers 37 and hold them and the swinging guides firmly in the keys or wedges 39 which are driven between the bars 38 and the longer bar 44., which latter is secured at each end to the roll housing, thereby serving as an abutment gainst which the `wedges 39 operate.

My delivery guide for flat bars canbe adjusted for ditferentthicknesses of bars by raising or lowering the bottom guide piece ll by introducing or withdrawing shims between the bott m thereof and the upper surface of the guide-box 6 and adjusting' the bolt 10, while the backward and forward adjustment of the guide piece may be made by introducing or withdrawing adjustment of the top guide for flat bars may be made by screwing or unscrewing the tap bolts 18 and then driving the wedge 22 to firmly secure said top guide in position.

My twist guides may be adjusted for bars in manner and completing rguides similar to that just described in connection with the guide for fiat bars.

In addition to the adjustments of my guides to accommodate bars of different thicknesses, my twist guides can be adjusted to produce more or less twist in any given bar by moving the outer ends of said twist guides nearer together, or farther apart. respectively. twist guides are moved lcloser together this will produce more twist due to the action on the ar of the guiding surfaces and the diagonally arranged projections 25 thereon, while less twist will be produced when the guides are adjusted a farther distance apart. This, therefore, provides a ready and convenient meansl or regulating the amount of twist produced in a bar between one roll pass and the next pass, whereby the bar is properly delivered -for entry and reduction in the required direction'.

It will be understood that the pitch or amount of the twist in any given axial length of the twist guides may be such that the continuation of said twist by the movement of the bar, in contact vwith said guides, will bring it into proper axial position for the next pass; for example; if a rectangular bar requires to be given a one-quarter turn, that-is, rotate degrees between one roll pass and the next, the length of the guide being 20-inches, and the distance between the roll passes 8-feet, lt-inches, or 100 inches, the twist guides in such case should be so adjusted as to turn the bar axially through one-fifth of'the total amount, viz. :518 degrees, and the continued movement of said bar through the remaining distance to the next pass will bring it into the desired position. Heretofore these adjustments had to be made in the first formation and construction of the twist guides. leaving no latitude for adjustment, whereas, by means of my arrangement this can be done in a very simple way, irrespective of the wear of the guides, variationsin heat or stiffness of the bar, or other complicating causes.

From the foregoing it will be obvious to those skilled in this art, that my guide equipment, comprising boxes and adjustable mounted therein, provides such a compact and at the same time universal and adjustable construction that all the roll passes are equipped with guides at the same time, even when the available roll surface is as fully utilized as possible for grooves therein.

Although I have shown and described my improvements in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details shown and described, but may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within When the outer ends ofthel the scope of my invention, or as pointed out inthe claims. j

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat.

curing said guides in position.

2. Arolling mill deliverjT guide com rising a guidefboxwith open top and en s, a

' bottom guidel mounted therin, a tp guide mountedin and between the upper portions of said box and provided with projections extending over the upper edges of the same, set screws mounted in said projections adaptedv "to'fcontact, with thev said upper edges, and means for securing said guides in position.

8. A rolling mill delivery guide comprising a guide-box of channel section with 'open top and ends, a bottom guide mounted on the lower inner. surface thereof and provided with means for vertical andlongitudinal adjustment therein, a top guide mounted in and between the upper portions of said box and .providedwithfprojectionsj extending oven-theniperzedges'of the same, set screws mounte in I.said projections adapted :to contact with the said upperedges, a clamp barv secured to and above said box, and clamping means' between said clamp bar and the upper surface of said top guide, whereby the same maybe adjusted and firmly secured in position.

4. Arolling mill delivery guide compris ing a guide-.box'of open channel section provided witha pair of bifurcated standards extending above the side walls thereof, a bottom guide adjustably mounted in said box, a top guide mounted in and between the upper portions of said box and provided with projections extending over the upper edges of the same, set screws mounted in said projections and adapted to contact with the said upper edges, a clamp bar mounted and secured within the bifurcations of the standards, andclamping means between said clamp bar and same may be adjusted and'firmly secured in position.- f'

5. A rolling mill 'delivery guide compris ing a guide-box ofopen channel section, a

.l pair of bifurcated vstandards formed integral. therewith and extending above the side walls thereof, a top .guide mounted between the upper portions of saidbox. and provided with projections extending' over the upper edges of' the same, set screws mounted in said top guide, whereby the said projections and adapted to contact with said upper edges, a clamp bar removably secured within the bifurcations of the standards aforesaid, and a wedge between said clamp bar and said top guide; whereby the same may be adjusted in position by means of the set 'screws and firmly secured in position by said wedge.

i 6. A rolling mill delivery guide comprising a plurality of guide-boxes of open channel section,- the sidewalls of which are contiguous, bottom. guides. and top guides mounted in saidboXes and provided with means for adjusting and securing said guides i' :,position, thereby forming a plurality of a justa le openings in alinemhtfwith the corresponding roll passes.

7. A rolling mill guide comprising `aguide e box of open channel section, a bottom guide mounted therein and provided with an inner laterally sloping twisted surface, a top guide mounted between the upper portions of said guide-box and similarly provided with an opposing'l inner laterally inclined twisted surface, thereby forming a twisting opening,

and means for adjusting and securing said guides in desired positions..

8. A rolling mill guide comprising a guidebox 'of openchannel section, a bottom and a top guide mounted therein,each provided with a laterally sloping twisted inner surface, thereby forming a twisting opening exifrem the roll pass, means for verticallyv ad .dusting said guides as desired, and olampingueans adapted to secure the same y in position.'

. 9.v A rolling mill guide comprising a guidebox of open channel section, a bottom and a top guide adjustably mounted therein, said guides being provided with laterally sloping opposed twisted surfaces and longitudinally extending projections on the diagonally opposite portions of said surfaces.

10.'A rolling mill guide comprising a plurality of boxes of channel section open at their tops and ends, the sides of the same being contiguous, the longitudinal openings thereof being respectively opposite a series of roll passes, a bottom guide and a top guide mounted in each of saidboxes, and means for adjusting and securing said guides in desired positions.

11. A rolling mill guide comprising a plurality of laterally contiguous boxes open at their tops and ends, the intermediate dividing walls of which are common to the adjacent boxes, a bottom guide mounted in ea ch. of said boxes andprovided with means for adjusting` and securing the same therein, a top guide mounted between the ripper por tions of each of said boxes and provided with projections extending over the upper edges of the same, adjusting means cooperating i forming a series of open channels, a bottomwith said projections and u per edges, and means for clampingsaid guides to said boxes in predetermined positions.

12. A rolling mill guide comprising a flat base portion anda plurality of dlviding walls extending above the same. thereby in the guide mounted lower portion of each of said channels and provided with means p for adjusting and securing the same therein,V 1 a top guide mounted in the upper portions of each channel and provided with lu extending over the upper edges of the adjacent Walls, the lugs on adj oinin top guides bein located in staggered re ation with eac 15 other, set screws mounted in said projections adapted to adjust said top guides, and clamping means adapted to firmly secure said top guides in t-heir'adjusted positions.

' In testimony whereof I hereto aliix my 20 signature in the presence olfy two witnesses.

JOHN W. SHEPERDSON.

. Witnesses:

-f-EmmxLmvEY, i

RoBEnT A. BEERS.' 

